Nine people from the fields of actuarial sciences, law, accounting, public and private finance and public service have been named by Republican Gov. Chris Christie to a panel that will evaluate possible overhauls to the state’s retirement and health benefits system.

A press release called the appointees a “non-political group of experts,’’ but at least several have been heavily involved in supporting political candidates.

They include Tom Byrne, head of Byrne Asset Management, who was a two-term chairman of the Democratic State Committee; and private-equity investor and philanthropist Raymond Chambers, who has been generous with campaign donations to candidates of both parties over the years and gifted Christie’s reelection campaign with a combined $7,600 in the primary and general.

However, the press release goes on to call the panel “a non-partisan commission” and says the members are registered with both political parties or are unaffiliated and adds quotes from Christie explaining that he has not “appointed politicians to this group’’ (i.e., actual candidates) and that none of his picks “are impeded by special interests.’’

The other members are:

Thomas J. Healey, a partner at Healey Development LLC was former assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury for domestic finances under President Reagan. Healey will serve as chairman.

Christie last week announced the creation of the New Jersey Pension and Health Benefit Study Commission via Executive Order 161.

“I intend to break the cycle of failing to act, failing to even acknowledge the problem, burden and consequences of our unfunded liabilities and entitlements,” Christie said in the press release. “I am determined to do whatever I can to stop leaving it to the next governor, the next legislature and the next generation of taxpayers in New Jersey.”